Overshoe.



Patented Dec. 12, I899.

W. T. MILLER.

0V E R S H 0 E (Application filed July 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM T. MILLER, OF MOKEESPORT', PENNSYLVANIA.

OVERSHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,735, dated December12, 1899.

Application filed July 29, 1899. Serial No. 725,508. (No model.)

T0 (6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mo- Keesport,in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Overshoe, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention is a new and useful construction of overshoe, the objectbeing to provide a simple and efficient means in connection with theovershoe proper whereby dirt and water are excluded from the top of theshoe, a tight joint being provided; and another object of the inventionis to so construct the packing that it will be impossible for theovershoe to pull offor be taken off except in a specified manner.

With these objects in view the invention consists, essentially, inproviding an inflatable tube upon the interior edge of the orifice ofthe overshoe.

The invention consists also in constructing the said inflatable tube insuch a manner as to prevent the slipping of the shoe; and the inventionconsists also in providing means within the shoe for automaticallyinflating the tube as the shoe is inserted into the overshoe.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction andnovelties of combination, all of which will be fully describedhereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is aperspective view of an overshoe constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. dis atransverse section showing a slightly-modifled form of construction.

In carrying out myinvention the overshoe A may be of any desired shapeor construction, and upon the inner edge of the opening is arranged aninflatable rubber tube B, said tube being preferably wedge-shaped incrosssection, the broad end being uppermost, so that any movement of theovershoe from the shoe proper will be prevented after the tube has oncebeen inflated, as it will be readily understood that the tube acts as awedge and not only prevents the entrance of dirt and water, but alsoprevents the overshoe slipping off. In order to permit the shoe to bein-- serted into the overshoe and then inflate the tube afterward, Iemploy a bulb O, which is preferably arranged in the heel portion of theovershoe and connected with the inflatable tube at the rear end by meansof a pipe D, said bulb being provided with the ordinary inlet-valve G atthe forward end, and the pipe D may be provided with any suitableconstruction of check-valve to prevent the air escaping from the tube Bafter it has once been inflated.

By means of the bulb 0, connected to the inflatable tube B, as beforedescribed, it will be seen that as the shoe is inserted into theovershoe the heel will bear upon the bulb O and force the air therefrom,and the capacity of said bulb is such that the entire tube B will befully inflated and the overshoe securely fastened upon the shoe. Anoutletvalve E of any suitable construction is preferably arranged in theinflatable tube B, at the forward end thereof, and whenever it isdesired to withdraw the overshoe the said valve E is operated to releasethe air from the tube B, and the shoe can then be easily removed. At therear end of the tube B is arranged an inlet-valve, by means of which thetube can be inflated from the outside by means of a bulb or pump in casethe bulb 0 should become inoperative, and in this connection it will beunderstood that any form of bulb or pump may be used in connection withthe inlet-Valve F.

In Fig. 3 the inflatable tube B is shown separable from the overshoeproper, it being vulcanized or cemented thereto in any suitable manner,while in Fig. 4 said tube is made integral with the shoe, the edge ofthe open ing being drawn down, as indicated, to providethe tube.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exoeedingly simple and efficientmeans for rendering the overshoe tight against dirt and water and at thesame time securely fastened to the shoe to prevent slipping from theshoe proper.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An overshoe having an inflatable tube surrounding the inner edge ofthe opening, and the bulb arranged within the heel portion of theovershoe, and connected with the inflatable tube, for the purpose ofinflating the same, substantially as shown and described.

5 2. An overshoe having an inflatable tube surrounding the inner edge ofthe opening, an inflating-bulb arranged within the heel portion of theovershoe and connected with the tube, and the outlet-valve arranged atthe forward end of the tube for the purpose of 10 releasing the air fromthe tube when it is desired to remove the overshoe, substantially asshown and described.

WILLIAM T. MILLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. BROOK, CLARENCE SHAW.

